Photographic-printing machine.



C. A. WATSON.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. I9IB.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1 C. A. WATSON.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9,1918.

1 ,284,507. Patented Nov. 12, 1918 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES fiw'on I6% WMM' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. WATSON, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINTING MACHINE.

Application filed May 9, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. WATSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPhotographic-Printing Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in photographic printingmachines, and more particularly to machines of this class adapted toprint upon sensitive paper from a film negative.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a machine ofthis character that will eliminate the necessity of trimming the prints,by providing means for centering the sensitive paper on the negative andproviding means for forming a mat around the negative.

Another object is the provision of lever operated clamping members forengaging and holding the film negative in position on the device, andsuch members forming a guide for the print paper when they areoperatively engaged on the negative.

A further and important object is to provide a clamping member forgripping the paper before the platen is lowered, so as to prevent suchpaper from being dislodged or moved with respect to the film, before theplaten engages the same.

btill another object is the provision of novel lever operating mechanismfor operating the several clamps and the platen to permit such parts tobe operated by the foot of the operator, thus leaving his hands free tohandle the print paper, etc.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the lampbox top plate;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of complete device partly insectlon.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail now showing the double glass pane with theinterposed mat.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 designatesthe top of a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 233,426.

stand or table having a recess 3 formed therein for the reception of alamp box member 4 which embodies my improved structure.

A flat metallic top plate 5 is secured to the box 4 and is cut away,forming a recess 6 to allow the'light rays to pass out. The edges of therecess 6 are cut away to form supporting flanges for a glass pane 7which is composed of two pieces of glass having a mat 8 therebetween, asin Fig. 1. Particular attention is directed to the formation of theglass pane 7, such construction providing a perfectly smooth surface forsliding the work over.

Clamping members 9 and 10 are hingedly mounted along the one side andend respectively of the recess 6.

The member 9 is pivotally or hingedly mounted in bearings 11, and hasprojecting leverarms or lugs 12 and 13 thereon. The

lugs 12 and 13 are adapted to have their free the plate and to returnthe same to its lower position after it has been raised by itscooperating lever mechanism.

The member 10 is pivotallv or hingedly mounted in bearings 17 and has aprojecting lug or lever arm 18 extending to the rear of the pivotsimilar to the construction of the lug 12 of member 9. The lug 18 hasits free end slidably mounted on a pin 19 and a coil spring member 20 isdisposed around such pin and between the plate and lug for providing aconstant tension on the member 10.

The pins 14 and 19 pass freely through the plate 5 and are joined attheir lower ends under plate 5 by bar 21 held in position by nuts 22.

An eccentric crank lever member 23 is mounted in bearings 241 on theunder side of plate 5 and has a hand lever or gripping portion 25 formedon one end and extending upwardly through a suitable slot in such plate,and has its other end bent upon itself as at 26, forming a projectionadapted to bear against the bar 21 as such shaft is rocked in itsbearings 24-. It will be understood that lever 23 is an eccentric crankso that it may be pulled past center and bear against the bar 21 andhold the clamps 9 and 1 0 in their raised position until re leased. Thebar 21 has a screw threaded rod 27 secured thereto adapted to beconnected to suitable pedal mechanism 27 and permits of the operation ofthe clampsv 9 and 10 by the movement of the operators foot, or by meansof the independent hand lever 25 formed on the one end of the crankmember 23.

The clamps 9 and 10 are positioned aocurately and form a right angledguide and stop for the print paper, which permits the operator to usethe correct size of paper and to position the same accurately over thenegative, thus eliminating the necessity of using oversize paper andtrimming after printing.

A print paper clamp 28 is mounted along the rear side edge of theaperture or recess 6, and comprises a plate 29 which has a downwardlyprojected extension 29 adaptec to bear on the paper. The plate 28 ismounted upon pins 30 slidably mounted in the plate 5 and having theirlower ends joined by tie plate 31. The paper clamp is normally held outof engagement with the paper by means of a leaf spring 32 which bearsagainst'the plate 31 thus forcing the whole clamp upwardly.

I The clamp 28 is adapted to be forced down into engagement with theprint paper to temporarily hold it in position by means ofa crank lever33 supported in bearings 34 on the under side of plate 5. One end ofthe-lever 33 is in engagement with the-plate 31 and the other endextends upwardly through the plate 5 and is provided with suitableoperating handle 35. The operator, by grasping the handle 35 and rockingthe crank lever 33, will force the clamp 28 down into engagement withthe paper to hold it against accidental movementuntil such paper isfirmly engaged by the platen A. (to be described) when the clamp 28maybe released. c

The platen A consists of aback plate 37 to which is movably connectedthe negativeengaging plate or platen proper 38, through screws or othersuitable means 39; and the platen 38 is normally held distended by leafsprings 40 interposed between the same and the back plate 37. V V

, The back plate 37 is hingedly supported in bearings ll secured toplate 5 and has an operating lever arm 42 extending rearwardly andconnected to connecting rod 43 which in turn is suitably connected to anoperating pedal 44;. Platen A is normally held in a raised positionbythe tension of a spring l5 connected to rod 43, thus providingforautomatically raising the platen when pressure is released from thepedal 44.

It will thus be seen that afterthe negative and print or sensitive paperare in position, the platen A'may be lowered by the operator by steppinon pedal 14' and that upon releasing such pressure the platen willautomatically rise.

T he platen 38 has a slight recess 46 on its rear edge to permit thefree movement of the clamp 28 so the same may be released when the paperis engaged by the platen.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The parts being assembled in an operative position, and it bein desiredto print copies of a negative, the negativewill be placed over the glassso that the portion having the image thereon is properly positioned withrespect to the mat 8. The clamps 9 and 10 are then raised, either by theoperation of pedal connected with the rod 27 or by the operation of theeccentric crank lever 25-, and the edge of the negative is placed underthese clamps, and the clamps then released. If the negative has beenproperly positioned with respect to the mat 8, the sensitive paper isthen slid along the glass 7 until its edges abut the edges of the clamps9 and 10 which form a right angled guide, and the temporary paper clamp28 is then forced down vard y by the movement of the crank lever 33 andheld in this position. The operator will then tramp or rock the pedal n,thus forcing the platen A down into engagen'ient with the paper, and theprinting process will be carried out while the platen is in thisposition. When the platen reaches its lowermost positionor is firmly inengagement with the paper, the clamp 28 is released and will moveupwardly to its normal free position.

When the negative and paper have been exposed a sullicient length oftime to the printing light, the pressure is removed from pedal 4% andthe platen will automatically rise, thus allowing ready removal of thesensitive or print paper.

It will be understood that this operation may be repeated a number oftimes and that either a single print or a number of prints may be takenfrom thenegative without removing such negative from its-position underthe clamps 9 and 10.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is p 7 1. In aphotographic printing machine, the combination with a lamp box, of a topplate'having an opening therein, and aglass arranged in said opening, ofa clamp men ber arranged along one side of said opening, a second clampmember arranged along the one end of said opening, said clamps extendingover and on to said glass, means connecting said clamps to cause asimultaneous movement thereof, means for operating said clamps, a thirdclamp arranged to operate over said first-named clamp and adapted tohold the print paper, means for operating said last-named clamp, and aplaten arranged to be forced down to engage the print paper, saidlast-named clamp adapted to be released when said platen is in position.

2. The combination with a lamp box, of a photographic printing machine,of a top plate having an opening therein closed by a transparent member,a clamp member arranged along the one side of said opening, a secondclamp member arranged along one end of said opening, said clamp membersextending over upon said transparent member and forming a right angledsquare edge to guide print paper into position, means connecting saidclamps to cause simultaneous operation thereof, means for operating saidclamps, a third clamp arranged to operate over said first-named clamp totemporarily hold the print paper, lever means for operating said clamp,and a platen adapted to be forced downwardly to engage the print paper,said platen having its rear edge recessed to permit said last-namedclamp to be released while said platen is in close engagement with saidprint paper.

8. In a photographic printing machine, the combination of a frame, alamp box mounted in said frame provided with a top plate having anopening and a slot formed therein, a transparent closure for saidopening, a clamp member arranged along the one side of said opening, asecond clamp member arranged along the one end of said opening, meansconnecting said clamps to cause the same to operate simultaneously,means for operating said clamps, a third clamp arranged to operate oversaid first-named clamp to hold the print paper, a crank lever mounted inbearings secured to the under side of said plate and having a handengaging portion extending upwardly through the slot formed in saidplate, and having its other end in engagement with said lastnamed clamp,said lever being adapted to force said clamp downwardly to temporarilyhold the print paper in position, a pedal and a platen having leverconnection with said pedal adapted to be forced downwardly to engagesaid print paper, said platen being arranged to allow said lastnamedlever to be released.

4:. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a lamp box,of a top plate having an opening therein, and a glass arranged in saidopening, of a clamp member arranged along one side of said opening, asecond clamp member arranged along the one end of said opening, saidclamps extending over and onto said glass, an eccentric crank lever foroperating said clamps, said lever being so positioned that it will holdsaid clamps in a raised position when it is rocked past center, a thirdclamp arranged to operate over said firstnained clamp and adapted tohold the print paper,

means for operating said last-named clamp, and a platen arranged to beforced down to engage the print paper, said last-named clamp adapted tobe released When said platen is in position.

5. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a lamp box,of a top plate having an opening therein, and a glass arranged in saidopening, of a clamp member arranged along one side of said opening, asecond clamp member arranged along the one end of said opening, saidclamps extending over and ontosaid glass, spring members arranged tonormally hold said clamps in position against said glass, an eccentriccrank lever for operating said clamps, said lever being so positionedthat it will hold said clamps in a raised position when it is rockedpast center, a third clamp arranged to operate over said first-namedclamp and adapted to hold the print paper, means for perating saidlast-named clamp, and a platen arranged to be forced down to engage theprint paper, said last-named clamp adapted to be released when saidplaten is in position.

6. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a lamp box,of a top plate having an opening and a slot formed therein, and a glassarranged in said opening, of a clamp member arranged along one side ofsaid opening, a second clamp member arranged along the one end of saidopening, said clamps extending over and onto said glass, lever armssecured to each of said clamps, link members secured to said lever armsand extending downwardly through said plate, a cross bar secured to thelower ends of said link members, an eccentric crank lever mounted onsaid plate and having its one end bearing against said cross bar, andits other end terminating in a handle above said plate, a rod secured tosaid cross bar and to a pedal to provide for foot operation of saidclamps when desired, a third clamp arranged to operate over saidfirst-named clamp to hold the print paper, a crank lever mounted inbearings secured to the under side of said plate and having a handengaging portion extending upwardly through the slot formed in saidplate, and having its other end in engagement with said last-namedclamp, said lever being adapted to force said clamp downwardly totemporarily hold the print paper in position. a pedal, and a platenhaving lever connection with said pedal adapted to be forced downwardlyto engage said print paper, said platen being arranged to allow saidlastnamed lever to be released.

In testimon whereof I hereunto affix 1y signature.

CHARLES A. WATSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

